The human relations commission shall advise, recommend, assist and encourage activities and programs to be undertaken to promote positive human relations in all aspects of community life in Beverly Hills. The commission shall actively promote a just and equitable multicultural society; and will endeavor to reduce conflict and tension, as well as discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other arbitrary factor.
The purposes and responsibilities of the commission shall include:
A. Promoting the concepts of diversity, tolerance, and acceptance in the community;
B. Conducting such studies and to hear such issues in any field of human relations in the community as will aid in effectuating the commission's general purpose;
C. Inquiring into incidents of tension or conflict among or between various racial, religious or nationality groups, and encouraging action by means of conciliation, conference, and/or persuasion to alleviate such tensions and conflict;
D. Conducting and/or recommending such educational programs as will increase good will throughout the community;
E. Defining, identifying and tracking existing and emerging issues that may benefit from intervention or conflict resolution;
F. Facilitating better communication and interpersonal relations within the city and between the city and members of the community and hearing and receiving oral and written communications, in an appropriate time and manner, from members of the public concerning any topic that relates to the relationships between members of the community or between the city or its staff and members of the community;
G. Receiving citizen complaints, in an appropriate time and manner, concerning the interactions of city employees with the public. The commission shall serve as one alternative to directing complaints to the city department involved in the complaint.
1. The commission or its staff may communicate with complainants and city departments with regard to complaints received by the commission and may also arrange and facilitate communications directly between city departments and complainants;
2. The commission or its staff may inquire about the status of a complaint received by the commission and the progress of the review of a complaint;
H. Landlord-Tenant Issues:
1. The commission shall hear landlord-tenant disputes in order to provide a public forum where tenants and landlords can address issues and resolve differences prior to pursuing mediation, requesting a formal hearing with the city, if applicable, or filing a civil suit.
2. The commission shall educate tenants in the City regarding tenant rights. (Ord. 15-O-2673, eff. 3-6-2015)